61 Thoughts

Sunday

Jul 29, 2012 at 12:01 AMJul 30, 2012 at 1:21 PM

It has been one week since Rick Nash, the face of the Blue Jackets' franchise, was traded to the New York Rangers. Blue Jackets fans have been able to process Nash's departure since late February, when it became known that he'd requested a trade out of Columbus rather than endure another franchise rebuild. Still, it's a deal that send shockwaves and reverberations through the fanbase.

The dust has settled. The trade has been measured and dissected in every way possible. Nash's legacy can now begin to form in Columbus, just as a new era dawns. Puck-rakers didn't exist when Nash was drafted, but those who are privileged to fill this space have known Nash, to some degree, since the day he was drafted. We asked the CBC's Elliott Friedman if we could borrow and adapt his intellectual property – '30 Thoughts' – and it apply to the now-departed Blue Jackets captain. He agreed. Here, then, are '61 Thoughts' regarding No. 61: No. 1 = Rick Nash was, in most ways, and ideal captain for Columbus and the Blue Jackets. He's a quiet, even-keeled and respectful guy, the type parents want their kids to admire and mimic. Nobody ever had to worry about Nash making headlines for something that happened after 2 a.m. He represented the city and the franchise with class and dignity. The trade request is not the fairy tale ending many fans envisioned when Nash was drafted, and his reputation, with some, will be tarnished. But overall I believe he leaves town in good standing with most fans. And, should it ever come to this, I believe he could return to the Blue Jackets late in his career or after his career is finished without much scorn. No. 2 = But he wasn't the perfect captain, not for the situation. Nash always played it safe. He allowed himself and those around him to get too comfortable. He was very 'Columbus' in that respect. This city doesn't yet know what it's like to have a major-league franchise in town. The kids clubs, the autograph signings, the classroom visits, and naming of koalas at the zoo are all great, and please don't read this and think we're suggesting otherwise. But the root of pro sports is the game, the competition, the on-ice drama. It's about rivalries and passion and watching the team that represents your city go toe-to-toe against other cities. It's about gut-level pride, not public relations. Nash always carried himself in a way so as not to offend anybody, his real thoughts and opinions buried deep beneath his sweater. That's exactly how this team is operated at times. Every ounce of energy is invested in making things look good. But you can't ever escape the bottom line: winning. That's pro sports. No. 3 = Nash very well could be the best pro athlete who ever plays for a Columbus team. Think about that. Five-time All-Star. Olympic gold medal-winner. For sure, it will be at least a decade before his name atop the categories in the Blue Jackets' record book will be challenged. It could be much, much longer. No. 4 = Wonder which line Nash will play on with the Rangers? Most expect him to step in with Brad Richards, a playmaker extraordinaire. My hunch is he'll fit best with Derek Stepan, but – as a guy who sees the Western Conference almost exclusively – I'm not entirely keyed in on Stepan's game. Nash needs the puck to be successful. He doesn't find space in the offensive zone and rip one-timers; he hauls it to net. This will be interesting.

No. 5

= I firmly believe that when Nash started to play in All-Star Games and the Olympics -- when he began to meet and befriend the biggest stars in the game – he started to realize the view

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The dust has settled. The trade has been measured and dissected in every way possible. Nash's legacy can now begin to form in Columbus, just as a new era dawns. Puck-rakers didn't exist when Nash was drafted, but those who are privileged to fill this space have known Nash, to some degree, since the day he was drafted. We asked the CBC's Elliott Friedman if we could borrow and adapt his intellectual property – '30 Thoughts' – and it apply to the now-departed Blue Jackets captain. He agreed. Here, then, are '61 Thoughts' regarding No. 61: No. 1 = Rick Nash was, in most ways, and ideal captain for Columbus and the Blue Jackets. He's a quiet, even-keeled and respectful guy, the type parents want their kids to admire and mimic. Nobody ever had to worry about Nash making headlines for something that happened after 2 a.m. He represented the city and the franchise with class and dignity. The trade request is not the fairy tale ending many fans envisioned when Nash was drafted, and his reputation, with some, will be tarnished. But overall I believe he leaves town in good standing with most fans. And, should it ever come to this, I believe he could return to the Blue Jackets late in his career or after his career is finished without much scorn. No. 2 = But he wasn't the perfect captain, not for the situation. Nash always played it safe. He allowed himself and those around him to get too comfortable. He was very 'Columbus' in that respect. This city doesn't yet know what it's like to have a major-league franchise in town. The kids clubs, the autograph signings, the classroom visits, and naming of koalas at the zoo are all great, and please don't read this and think we're suggesting otherwise. But the root of pro sports is the game, the competition, the on-ice drama. It's about rivalries and passion and watching the team that represents your city go toe-to-toe against other cities. It's about gut-level pride, not public relations. Nash always carried himself in a way so as not to offend anybody, his real thoughts and opinions buried deep beneath his sweater. That's exactly how this team is operated at times. Every ounce of energy is invested in making things look good. But you can't ever escape the bottom line: winning. That's pro sports. No. 3 = Nash very well could be the best pro athlete who ever plays for a Columbus team. Think about that. Five-time All-Star. Olympic gold medal-winner. For sure, it will be at least a decade before his name atop the categories in the Blue Jackets' record book will be challenged. It could be much, much longer. No. 4 = Wonder which line Nash will play on with the Rangers? Most expect him to step in with Brad Richards, a playmaker extraordinaire. My hunch is he'll fit best with Derek Stepan, but – as a guy who sees the Western Conference almost exclusively – I'm not entirely keyed in on Stepan's game. Nash needs the puck to be successful. He doesn't find space in the offensive zone and rip one-timers; he hauls it to net. This will be interesting. No. 5 = I firmly believe that when Nash started to play in All-Star Games and the Olympics -- when he began to meet and befriend the biggest stars in the game – he started to realize the view beyond his own fenced yard was pretty cool, too. And in most cases, it was better. There were instances last season, before the trade stuff started, when other NHL players were directly advising Nash to leave. One player tells The Dispatch: "I skated over to him before a faceoff and just told him 'you have to get out of here. Put your agent to work and get it done.'" Many were surprised last February to learn that Nash had asked to be traded. From what I can glean, players around the league were only shocked that it took him so long. No. 6 = Rebuild or reshape – the debate rages. Nash said he was told the team was rebuilding, so he asked for a plane ticket out of town with certain destinations in mind. The Blue Jackets, led by GM Scott Howson, say they never used the word rebuild, and never planned to start over again as a franchise. They expect to be competitive with a newly configured team in 2012-13. When presented these conflicting scenarios on Monday, a few hours after the trade, Nash said: "I know what I heard in that room. It was 'rebuild.' That's what I was told. Since then, I've heard rebuild and reshape. But I was told rebuild." No. 7 = Several people around the team – players, executives, etc. – believe Nash's father was the first person to pull his son aside and give him a bit of wisdom, the kernel that began the trade proceedings. At 28 years old and nine seasons into his NHL career, it wasn't happening in Columbus. Very few players, especially power forwards, enjoy 18-year careers, meaning Nash's career is likely more than half completed. He could be the NHL's version of Archie Manning if he spent his entire career putting up big numbers for a losing franchise. Nobody wants that. No. 8 = I'll never forget the night he scored "the goal" in Phoenix. It was Jan. 17, 2008. Nash went dipsy-do through the Coyotes defense to score the second-most ridiculous goal I've ever witnessed in person. (See Zherdev vs. Chicago.) It was a wondrous effort, one that required several replays at slow-mo and full speed to fully fathom. Even Nash had to watch it a couple times to see what he'd done. On a selfish note, it was one of those "deadline" moments for which no amount of schooling can fully prepare you. You just witnessed a jaw-dropping goal that ended the game in the wee hours back home. George Matthews is coming out of his sport coat only 8 feet over your right shoulder. (I'm paraphrasing here, but George's call went like this: "Rick Nash has the … he does the … whoa, big fella … he carries it ... he … he … SCORES!!!!! RICK NASH!!!!!") The thoughts inside my head: What did I just see? Did that just happen? OK, the newsroom is waiting. You've got five minutes to write a story for 200K. Alrighty. Let's do this justice. No. 9 = The goal in Phoenix was amazing. The most meaningful goal, though, was the one Nash scored in Chicago more than a year later. It was April 8, 2009, and Nash scored with 5:30 left in regulation to tie the score vs. the Blackhawks. That single point was all the Jackets needed to clinch their first Stanley Cup playoff berth. His celebration made it clear how special the moment was to him, and he mentioned afterward how he thought of founding owner John H. McConnell, who passed away the previous summer. I'll never forget how a few Blackhawks players were seen tapping their sticks at the Blue Jackets' joy. I'll also never forget the torrent of emails we received the next day after asking Blue Jackets fans to share their thoughts regarding the first playoff berth. Whenever anybody doubts Columbus as a hockey market, I'd like to show them that pile of emails. Special. No. 10 = Nash spoke at McConnell's funeral, and he did so choking back tears. The relationship between the two went so far beyond the typical player-owner relationship, beyond the young kid being cool with the guy who signs his check. Nash was 18 years old when he arrived in Columbus. McConnell was a surrogate grandpa. McConnell was a down-to-Earth guy who put players at ease and made them feel welcome. Nash was a baby-faced, budding star who held the promise of the franchise in his hands. That's a big load. McConnell helped ease the transition, and made it seem more like family than business. As old as he gets, as far as he travels and as much as he accomplishes, Nash may never have a relationship like that one again. No. 11 = Many have questioned Nash's abilities as a captain. Should the BlueJackets have given the Nash the 'C' when they did? A better question is … Did they have any choice? If you recall, Adam Foote had just orchestrated his departure from the Blue Jackets at the 2008 trade deadline. Equipment had been ordered. A plane was ready. It was an ugly act. After Foote's departure, the days started to pile up without a replacement. If you're Nash, people are starting to look at you, inside and outside the dressing room. You're the best player. You've been here the longest. This is getting awkward. Former Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock always seemed to have slight reservations about turning the 'C' over to Nash at that point in Nash's career. But the situation forced everybody's hands. No. 12 = Nash raised many an eyebrow with his tacit defense of Foote in the aftermath of Foote's orchestrated departure. The Blue Jackets were five points out of the playoffs when the captain bailed for Colorado. While you wouldn't expect Nash to crush Foote – he was a friend, a fellow Canadian Olympian, and a revered figure by many – but he continually praised him as "a great captain, a great leader, and a guy I've learned a lot from." For fans who were dismayed by Foote, this may have been the first time they felt as if they were on a different page than the franchise player. No. 13 = Wonder if, or how soon, the Blue Jackets will re-issue the No. 61 sweater? How soon is too soon? I bet there are some in Nationwide Arena who think the number should be retired when Nash is done playing. Not kidding. No. 14 = Think Nathan MacKinnon would ask for No. 61? No. 15 = Said for years that the Blue Jackets would be a good team when Rick Nash is their second best player. Never happened, of course. But look at the situation he's stepping into in New York. He'll get lots of attention early this season because he's the new guy. But Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik and even Ryan Callahan probably will draw a bigger share of the spotlight than Nash. And we haven't even mentioned goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers will be picked by many to win the Stanley Cup. In so many ways, Nash has landed in a new galaxy. No. 16 = John Tortorella seems the perfect coach for Rick Nash at this stage of his career. Nash has been the best player in Columbus since, what, year two of his career? Since before or after Hitchcock was in Columbus, none of the Blue Jackets coaches have pushed him – or been able to push him. Nash stopped playing down low on the power play, where the beatings occur. He stopped playing on the penalty kill. Previous coach Scott Arniel indicated Nash no longer wanted to play in front of the net on the man advantage, but it was Arniel's decision to take him off the penalty kill. No. 17 = Going to make a bold prediction that Nash will return to the 40-goal, 80-point plateau. Won't be surprised if he has some early-season run-ins with Tortorella, because Nash's 'good' won't be good enough in MSG. But I think Nash will be a beast again. Call it Tort Reform. No. 18 = Nash and the Rangers play in Nationwide Arena on April 5. But there's a good chance Nash could return to Columbus before that – at the 2013 NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 27. No. 19 = How will Nash be received in Columbus? I've thought about that a lot. More than anything, I think he'll be welcomed back with open arms and just a smattering of boos. This won't be Foote or Zherdev or Carter. No. 20 = Foote. Carter. Nash. These are players who have asked to be traded or have played their way out of Columbus, all since 2008. Coincidence? Or is there a bigger issue nobody is willing to truly confront? Or experienced enough to even realize? No. 21 = If the Blue Jackets have one or two players in the All-Star Game this year – there will be a hyooooodge push by the organization to get fans to stuff the ballot box, so get ready – the return of Nash will be a mildly awkward celebration of him coming back to his NHL birthplace. The local peeps could probably deal with that. If the Blue Jackets struggle out of the gate, get no ballot-box stuffing from their fans, and don't have an All-Star, Nash's return will be terribly uncomfortable – not for Nash, but for the organization. Nash will have been confirmed in his decision to ask for the trade. To be clear, it's highly unlikely the NHL would allow the host city to not have an All-Star. But the whole world with be watching, with strong opinions as to whether it's truly deserved or not. No. 22 = Nash has referred to a "media blitz" when he plays in Canada, and his trips to Toronto were a sight to behold. Asked him on Monday why he didn't have any Canadian clubs on his list of six preferred teams, but he wouldn't answer directly, wouldn't discuss the list. This is a guy who likes to put his feet up now and then. He likes to play his golf in peace. He likes to be left alone, to put hockey down when he's not at the rink. That's easier to do south of the Canadian border, even in a city the size of New York. There are the Mets, the Yankees, the Giants, the Jets, the Knicks … unless you're not a super-superstar or a lightning rod (Sean Avery), you can get by with minimal stress, as long as you perform. No. 23 = Nash's name dominates the Blue Jackets' record book. That's obvious proof of what he's meant to this franchise. Look a little further, though. The stunning lack of talent surrounding Nash, and the revolving door on the dressing room, is brought into focus when you look at the gap between Nash and the No. 2 guy in most categories. Nash played 131 more games, had 161 more goals, 54 more assists, 230 more points, 47 more power play goals, 27 more game-winning goals and 1,358 more shots on goal than the guy behind him. And the guy behind him in every instance was right winger David Vyborny. No. 24 = Last Feb. 19, as the Blue Jackets played in Madison Square Garden, the possibility of Nash joining the Rangers was hanging in the air. The trade deadline was eight days away. Nash was serenaded by chants of "We Don't Want You!" from the Rangers fans. He took it the right way – proof that the Rangers have some of the most dialed-in, vocal fans in the NHL. Wonder what the Blueshirt faithful will come up with for Nash's debut in MSG on Nov. 1? Yes, Nov. 1. The Rangers open with eight straight on the road as the Garden is undergoing renovations. No. 25 = Only four players have scored 30-or-more goals in each of the last five seasons: Ilya Kovalchuk, Alex Ovechkin, Jarome Iginla and Rick Nash are the four. No, Nash isn't in the Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos stratosphere. But he's definitely in the conversation among the NHL's top 10-15 forwards. No. 26 = God bless fans. Nash was an overrated bum in the eyes of many New Yorkers before the trade. Now, he's the man, the difference-maker, the perfect Ranger. (All evidence drawn from Twitter correspondence.) No. 27 = Now that Nash is gone, the longest tenured Blue Jacket is right winger Jared Boll, drafted in 2005. The only guys still on the roster since GM Scott Howson's first season (2007-08) are Boll, Derek MacKenzie and Derick Brassard. New sign on the dressing room: "Please Use Revolving Door" No. 28 = Nash has said he plans to keep his home here, plans to maintain his membership at his favorite golf club, Scioto Country Club. His longtime girlfriend lives here. On Wednesday, when he met with the media in New York, Nash said he hadn't decided what to do with his Columbus residence. This kind of thing tends to mean a lot to Columbus residents. We need to be reaffirmed that this is a great place to live. No. 29 = I'vebeen asked a million times through the years: 'What's Rick Nash really like?' The honest answer is … I don't know. We spent lots of time together, but always maintained the line of reporter/subject, never buddy-buddy. We got along very well professionally through the years, never had so much as a squabble. He was always a bit uncomfortable when praise was heaped upon him, like around All-Star time or when he was closing in on a big number. On the flip side, he understood tough questions. He recognized why they needed to be asked, and he never held it against the questioner. But very few people in the media – myself included – ever got beyond the surface with him. He's a friendly but private guy. Please don't read this as a complaint. No. 30 = I'll never forget the night of July 2, 2009. Nash was, by two days, in the final year of his contract, and the two sides were working on an long term extension. Nash and his agent, Joe Resnick, were not impressed with the initial offer from the Blue Jackets, and Nash made that abundantly clear as we chatted on the phone late at night. About 30 seconds in, I cut him off and said "Rick, we're on the record here, right?" That's perhaps beyond the necessary professional courtesy, but it was so out of character for Nash, I just need to make sure. It was, in fact, on the record. No. 31 = The very next day Nash's deal got done – 8 years, $62.4 million … the deal that was likely to mean he'd finish his career in Columbus and would allow the Blue Jackets to sign some of the league's top free agents each off-season. If only. No. 32 = That's the only time Nash ever voiced his displeasure with anything. No. 33 = Nash's no-trade clause DOES go with his contract from the Blue Jackets to the Rangers. You'll recall that Jeff Carter's no-trade clause did not travel with him from the Flyers to the Jackets last summer. Here's how it's been explained to me: Carter was traded to the Jackets roughly one week before his no-trade was to kick-in with the Flyers, and since he hadn't been engaged – signed by both clubs on that date – it was up to Columbus and Carter to write a new one. They never did get around to it … not that it would have mattered much. Nash's no-movement clause, however, was in place before Monday's trade occurred, so it's part of the deal. No. 34 = Howson & Co. are taking lots of heat for their rumored trade demands for Nash. That's part of the business, of course, and the Jackets' performance the last three seasons certainly leaves them open to significant criticism. It's rarely a happy summer for the 30th place team. But while some chuckle at the thought of the Jackets "demanding" Jeff Skinner from the Hurricanes – man, is that Howson guy crazy! – look at it from the Blue Jackets' perspective: without including Skinner, try to put together a package of young, talented Hurricane forwards (don't give me Zac Dalpe, peeps) that would be sufficient enough to land Nash. The Jackets should have known Skinner was a non-starter, and it says here they did know he was a non-starter. But when you sit down and look at the Hurricanes' organizational depth – post the Jordan Staal trade – there's simply no way Carolina could match the Rangers' offer. They didn't have the non-Skinner pieces. No. 35 = More on the trade stuff. Asked if the Blue Jackets could have gotten the same return for Nash at the trade deadline, Howson said: "We weren't ready to trade him at the deadline. We wanted to wait and see what was there at the draft or in free agency." I can't say for certain that the same offer – Dubinsky, Anisimov, Erixon and a first-round pick – wasn't available at the trade deadline. I've been told by sources within the Blue Jackets that it wasn't available, but others who are paid to cover the Rangers have been told it was on the table, or could have been consummated. But sources have told The Dispatch that the Rangers' offer changed the Friday before the deal was agreed upon. Erixon was added into the mix on the Rangers' side, and the Jackets countered with a third-round conditional pick. Was Erixon worth the wait? Check back in a few years. No. 36 = I have a theory, and it's a bit harsh. I believe we reveal our true identities as people and as professionals – distinctly different categories – by how we respond in those instant moments of life for which we cannot prepare. It can be a crisis, but it doesn't have to be. I suppose these are called regrets. Anyway, one moment stands out in particular for me with Nash as a professional, as the club's captain. Three seasons ago, Los Angeles defenseman Rob Scuderi low-bridged Jackets winger Jason Chimera as Chimera carried the puck into the zone. The hit was well outside the norm for Scuderi, but it could not have been dirtier. Nash was the first guy to arrive at the scene, and he simply put his glove-covered hand on Scuderi's shoulder. That's the moment where the score and situation don't matter, where the first order of business is stepping up for your teammate. It needed to happen instantaneously. It was an opportunity lost, and it wasn't the only time that happened with regard to Nash not physically sticking up for a teammate. Nobody in the room was willing to talk about it in the days that followed – this is the captain, says the code – but believe me: they all took note. No. 37 = People think pro athletes have it easy. Ha. Are they overpaid? Well, sure, in most cases. But there's a lot more to it than most people realize. It's a privilege to have the health, the genes, the work ethic and the passion to play a sport so well that people are willing to pay to watch. But it is not easy. No. 38 = Who will be the captain after Nash? The odds-on favorite, of course, is defenseman Jack Johnson, who stepped into a eco-disaster in Columbus last season and immediately helped with the clean-up. But this has been made abundantly clear by many: one guy will wear the 'C', but the leadership is expected to come from many directions. Johnson, James Wisniewski, R.J. Umberger, Derek Dorsett, Vinny Prospal. Throw Dubinsky in there, too, even though he's a newcomer. Folks, this is heavy-lifting. This is the players taking ownership and working to change the culture, or create a culture that's long overdue. It's not the work of one guy, unless Mark Messier comes out of retirement. Maybe even then. No. 39 = Trading up from No. 3 to No. 1 and drafting Rick Nash was the crowning achievement of GM Doug MacLean's tenure with the Blue Jackets. That he paid virtually nothing to move up two cherished spots in the drafting order speaks to MacLean's skills as a salesman. Strange, but I can still hear MacLean's voice when he stepped to the podium and made the selection. He gritted his teeth, like he could barely contain his excitement. No. 40 = Another example of the void Nash leaves. Among current Blue Jackets, here are the franchise leaders in the categories Nash previously led (with all-time franchise rank in parenthesis): Games: Boll, 345 (5th) Goals: Umberger, 94 (3rd) Assists: Umberger, 104 (4th) Points: Umberger, 198 (3rd) Power-play goals: Umberger, 30 (4th) Short-handed goals: Umberger, 4 (4th) Game-winning goals: Umberger, 12 (4th t) No. 41 = Nash's career plus-minus rating is -71, good for 14th-worst among all active players. Olli Jokinen and Vincent Lecavalier have career minus-111s, while Ilya Kovalchuk is a minus-110. Eric Brewer (-107) and Pavel Kubina (-102) are still in the hunt. (Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson is minus-85 in only 384 games, the fewest games – by far – of anybody in the top 10.) In Nash's defense, minus-62 of that rating came in his first two NHL seasons. No. 42 = During Nash's career in Columbus, the Blue Jackets were 14-35-1-10 vs. Nashville, the worst mark among Central teams. His best numbers came against Chicago (24-27-51) and Detroit (25-22-47). Heads-up to Rangers fans. The club he's struggled most against in New Jersey, with 1-1-2 minus-8 in six games. No. 43 = During his time with the Blue Jackets, Nash played with an endless string of different centers. The list includes, but is not limited to, Andrew Cassels, Mike Sillinger, Todd Marchant, Manny Malhotra, Alexander Svitov, Sergei Fedorov, Jan Hrdina, Michael Peca, Jason Williams, Antoine Vermette, R.J. Umberger, Derick Brassard, Jeff Carter, Mark Letestu. Of that group, Cassels probably gets the nod as the most skilled playmaker. Malhotra gets credit for the most consistent success next to Nash. Fedorov was probably the player who did the most work for Nash. No. 44 = If you step back and look at the entire Blue Jackets' organization, Nash virtually stood alone as a highly-accomplished NHLer. Nobody in the dressing room was on par with him, certainly, but there aren't any executives upstairs who truly know the pressure Nash faced. It's true that a guy can be in a room with hundreds and still on an island. It's been noted for a long time that the Blue Jackets' front office is woefully deficient of high-end executives. Two years ago, the coaching staff was Scott Arniel, with assistants Brad Berry, Bob Boughner, Dan Hinote and Dave Rook. A first-time NHL head coach, with four first-time NHL assistants. Before they arrived in Columbus, none of those guys had ever done their jobs on an NHL level. That goes for most of the guys upstairs. No. 45 = Because Nash was the only star on Nationwide, there was level of deference paid him that was out of whack. Hitchcock had the credentials and the confidence to crack the whip. Remember how quickly Nash ended up on the penalty kill when Hitchcock took over? When Hitch was fired, nobody left could challenge the captain, allowing him to rest on his laurels. Call that a character flaw if you wish, but we all need a kick in the rear sometimes. That's just human nature. No. 46 = Always wished somebody close to Nash would have gotten to him and instructed him to find a balance between measuring his words and speaking his mind. After lousy games, he would make comments such as "we just didn't have it" or "we weren't ready to play" or "it's unacceptable", etc. Nash meant well with these words. Without hurting feelings in the room, he was trying to express to fans that he recognized the situation. But when the ugly losses become routine, saying they're "unacceptable" becomes meaningless. He needed, at times, to be stronger and more specific. Otherwise, it just adds to the fans frustration. No. 47 = The day after the Howson dropped the "Nash requested a trade" bombshell, Nash said he asked for a trade to help the Jackets with their rebuilding effort, like it was an act of charity. Puhlease. Many have countered that thought with a "well, what is he supposed to say?" Here's one possibility: "I'm 28 years old. I've played 10 seasons of pro hockey. Very few players, especially power forwards, are lucky enough to play 20 years. We haven't won here, and it looks now like we're a few seasons away, at least. I don't want to wait that long, and there are no guarantees. Management has told me they plan to rebuild the franchise. If that's the case, I think I need to move on. I want to be traded." No. 48 = If Fedorov hadn't been cut off at the ankles by MacLean, he could have had a much bigger impact on the players around him, including (especially?) Nash. Fedorov was no longer a perennial Hart Trophy candidate when he arrived in Columbus, but his mind for the game was as sharp and insightful as anybody who has ever worn the sweater. When Fedorov spoke honestly and frankly about the difficult of playing with Nash and Zherdev as his linemates, his words should have been heeded. Nash needed to learn to trust his linemates to create offense, not just do it all himself. Zherdev had to learn to play without the puck, along with other things. Instead, Fedorov was crushed behind the scenes by MacLean, a blow to his ego and spirit that essentially caused him to check out emotionally with the Blue Jackets. It's too bad. The room could have used the real Sergei Fedorov. No. 49 = Geez, remember the Rick and Nik show? Should have been something special. No. 50 = The trade of Nash means that only one first-round draft pick during MacLean's run as GM remains with the club: Derick Brassard in 2006. Rostislav Klesla, Pascal Leclaire, Rick Nash, Nikolai Zherdev, Alexandre Picard and Gilbert Brule … they're all gone. No. 51 = Nash wanted to wear No. 13 when he was drafted into the Ontario Hockey League by the London Knights, but the Knights wouldn't allow it on the basis of superstition. So he asked for No. 16, but No. 16 was currently taken by a Knights' veteran. Nash told the trainers if he couldn't have 16 he didn't really care which number they gave him. The next morning, No. 61 was hanging in his locker. No. 52 = Nash has been well praised for his charitable works in and beyond Columbus. He won the NHL's Foundation Award in 2009 for giving back to his community. That's no small award. But he's also the type of guy to do things that the public never hears about. In some cases, the media hears about them and Nash asks that it not be made public. "That's not why I did it." Some athletes arrange for cameras to be on hand when they give back. Nash always seemed uncomfortable with that. He'd try to do it without the cameras around. No. 53 = By my estimation, Nash was paid at least $47.55 million through the three contracts signed with the Blue Jackets. Yowza. Put another way: that's $164,532.87 per goal. The Rangers on the hook for the final six seasons and $47.4 million of his current deal, which is close to what the Jackets paid for the first nine. No. 54 = Nash's last game in a Blue Jackets sweater was April 7, 2012. He had a goal, a plus-2 rating, three shots on goal and played 15:33 in a 7-3 win over the New York Islanders in Nationwide Arena. Wonder how many people kept their ticket stubs. No. 55 = Been asked a few times if Jeff Carter's desire to leave Columbus helped plant a seed in Nash's head, if it didn't convince him once and for all that this is franchise is isn't close to winning. Honestly, I don't believe that's the case. Nash said repeatedly that this decision was made by him, nobody else. Further, I don't think Carter and Nash were all that close. Nash tried to play the role of diplomat, taking Carter to Ohio State games, having him over for dinner, etc. But I don't think the two ever became buddies. By the end of Carter's run in Columbus, I don't think too many guys in the dressing room cared for him. No. 56 = It's not something anybody has mentioned, and I don't know why I feel this way, but … I get the sense Nash will be back with the Blue Jackets some day, in some capacity. Have always said the same thing about Jody Shelley, too. No. 57 = The number that best explains Nash's run in Columbus is this: he played in five NHL All-Star Games and four Stanley Cup playoff games. That speaks to his individual success and his team's struggles. No. 58 = Nash won the Rocket Richard Memorial Trophy as a 19-year-old, sharing the trophy with Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk. What were you doing at 19 years of age? He remains the youngest player ever to share the lead or lead the NHL in goal-scoring. No. 59 = Since the Jackets joined the NHL in 2000-01, only three of the 13 No. 1 overall draft picks have been traded: Kovalchuk from Atlanta to New Jersey, Erik Johnson from St. Louis to Colorado; and now Nash from Columbus to the New York Rangers. No. 60 = Can't recall if it was the 2003-04 or 2005-06 season. But on the way out of the practice rink one day, Nash stopped to sign autographs with a collection of fans. He jotted and jotted and jotted, then looked up and had an infant thrust toward him a few inches from his face. "This is Nasher!" the lady said, beaming with a smile. She and her husband had moved from Japan to Marysville to work at Honda a year or so earlier, and they had become fast fans of the Blue Jackets. And, obviously, big fans of Nash. No. 61 = No matter where you choose to place the blame for Nash's departure – management or player – trading the franchise player is a sad day for any franchise. It's not the end of the world, and certainly not the end of the franchise. But it represents the end of an era in Columbus, one that held such promise but never quite delivered. Over the last few days, more than a few people have reached out via email or Twitter to say that their family members – sons, daughters, moms, etc. – actually cried last Monday when he was traded. Most hardcore sports fans will understand that type of emotional response to sports (especially if you root for the Browns). The sun will rise again for the Blue Jackets. In fact, it already has risen, with the arrival of three promising players and a first-round draft pick. But Nash is moving on, and a few young hearts are hardened. The lost generation of Blue Jackets fans has now lost its guy. -- Aaron Portzline aportzline@dispatch.com twitter: @aportzline

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